Where does Job’s hope lie, and where does our own?
Pause for a moment to reflect back on one of your darkest times. Perhaps you tossed and turned for sleepless nights, futilely attempting to unravel the tangled web created by bad decisions. Perhaps you agonized over a bitter and angry child. Perhaps physical pain incessantly pierced and jabbed at you. Perhaps… Perhaps. No matter what our individual calamities, each one of us has been (or will someday be) there with Job, drained of strength and courage to face even the next hour. Where can we turn? Where can we place our hope? And how?
We may have to venture outside Job chapters 13 and 14 to knit together those slender strands that constitute hope, especially in the midst of the unrelenting pain that chews away at every part of our lives. At this point in his terrible journey, Job contrasted human hope (quite unfavorably) to a chopped down tree. Even though the tree had been destroyed, it sprouted again when watered—not so, with those who sleep in death (14:7–12). With great courage, Job had previously declared that he was prepared to defend himself before God, knowing full well that no godless person could stand in His presence (13:15–16). But like most of our courageous statements, Job’s expectations faded almost as quickly as he spoke them. He was back in the gloom of his torment and suffering. For Job, the steady and irreversible disintegration of mountains and rock in the natural world were a fitting metaphor for the erosion of his hope (14:18–19).
Of course, that is not the end of Job’s story—or ours. We affirm with saints through the ages that our faithful God does restore our lives and comfort us in our pain (Psalm 71:20–21). We believe we will be carried through the deep waters and the ravaging fire (Isaiah 43:1–2). We hold fast to the hope that Jesus is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25–26). And we believe God has the power to do all He’s promised to do (Romans 4:20–24). This means that if we are in Christ Jesus, we have crossed over from death to life—even now! (John 5:24–25). Did you catch that? It’s a truth worth repeating, this time with the apostle Paul’s words, who tells us that right now, this very moment, we are seated in the heavenly realms with Jesus (Ephesians 2:6).
How do we respond? I confess I’m tempted to be a bit skeptical from time to time. You too? Thankfully, there is another path on which to set out at this point. Even from the crucible of our suffering and discouragement, we can take up the mantle of the psalmist. We have the privilege of declaring God’s goodness, of proclaiming the richness of God’s immeasurable and precious grace, and of being increasingly thankful (Psalm 71:14–18). Gratitude trumps grumpiness—every time, in all circumstances. The Apostle Paul affirmed that as well, saying, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Elaine A. Phillips received a BA in social psychology from Cornell University, an MDiv from Biblical Theological Seminary, and an MA in Hebrew from the Institute of Holy Land Studies in Jerusalem, where she and her husband, Perry, studied and taught from 1976–79. She holds a PhD in rabbinic literature, and teaches Biblical Studies at Gordon College. She also serves as a historical geography field instructor for Jerusalem University College. She has published a commentary on Esther in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary; a devotional book, With God, Nothing Is Impossible; and, most recently, An Introduction to Reading Biblical Wisdom Texts.
Praying
My recent darkest time has been the last 4 months. No one warned me that weaning my baby would cause a hormonal imbalance that could send me into a tailspin. Panic/anxiety attacks, hot flashes, insomnia, jumbled thoughts, brain fog, sudden crying fits, spotty vision, dizziness and migraines. I was absolutely terrified. I had no idea what was happening. The only person I could rely on was Jesus. One night during a horrible panic attack in the middle of the night, Jesus came to me and explained to me what was happening. He also assured me I was entering the worst of it but would be better by spring time. It’s been a rough 4 months, but I know I’ve never been alone. God has his arms wrapped around us. We are his and he will see us through all of our darkest days.
This message hit home. My husband left me 6 weeks ago….he is very cold and can’t decide if he wants to stay married or not. He’s dealing with so much guilt and hurt and there seems to be no end in sight. It hurts me that he’s hurting. It hurts me that we are walking through this terrible valley and season in our lives and doing it separate. I don’t know what God has in store but I know He is here. Im thankful that I can rest in knowing that God is with me through all of this. Some days are better than others but I’m just taking it all one day at a time. I’m so thankful for this devotion on Job and that it came at just the right time.
Praying you and your husband’s hearts and you redemption in your marriage. Colossians 3:12-14 has been a comfort and guidance to me in my own season of hurt desperation for hope. Verse 14 says, “And above all these, put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” This study of Job is reminding me of the importance of choosing to put on love, it’s an action. Also, a comforting thought to me from this study has been the idea that when suffering comes, and it will, that God is not doing it TO me…He’s doing it FOR me.
I just have to keep putting on love and stepping out after Him every single day. ❤️
I think the thing that I forget the most is “seasonality”. Life is a journey with seasons and it won’t always be hard and won’t always be easy. It’s such a simple thing and yet I forget it over and over. Within the bad season I need to remember my God is with me in both seasons and I need to draw closer to Him instead of zoning out like I normally do.
Praying!!
So wonderful to think of God as an omnipotent , omnipresent and omniscient being. I’m in a valley I’ve been in for the better part of two years, and we are praying fervently for a miracle. In the midst of it, today my cat came down with something in his eye, and he is so pitiful. I started thinking about God. I see my cat who is dependent on me to help him feel better. Trusting that I am working to help him feel better. He doesn’t doubt me because He knows I will take care of him. It’s the same for us and God, but we are too human and oftentimes question His faithfulness when times get tough. Jesus, thank you for teaching me lessons in my daily life.
Something I heard as a teen that continues to resonate today … “Never doubt in the darkness what you believed in the light”. Oh, but it’s so easy for my “faith” to waver when the way is dark. But that’s when I must cling to the hope that Christ offers. Hope – a confident expectation. Not Hope – a wishful feeling. “Why are you cast down O my soul? Hope thou in God … for I will yet praise Him!”
LOVE this quote!!
Recently my 15 month old was admitted the hospital. Sitting there waiting for the results was almost unbearable. I took that time to thank God for everything about my daughter. This really just calmed my spirit, I was able to have joy instead of fear. I can resonate with the statement gratitude trumps grumpiness, it is so very true !